Displaying the Vessel Number and Validation Stickers
The vessel number and registration decals must be displayed as follows.
- Number must be painted, applied as a decal, or otherwise affixed to the forward half (bow) of each side of the vessel, placed well above the waterline.
- Number must read from left to right on both sides of the bow.
- Number must be in at least three-inch-high, bold, BLOCK letters.
- Number's color must contrast sharply with its background.
- Letters must be separated from the numbers by a space or hyphen: MD 3717 ZW or MD-3717-ZW.
- No other numbers may be displayed on either side of the bow.
- Decals must be affixed on each side of the vessel within three inches of the vessel number and may be placed in front of, behind, above, or below the number.
Personal watercraft and jetpack vessels also are required to display the certificate’s number and registration decals.
